Works and Projects

A selection of different projects

Against People Against People

Rob
Blake’s Against People Against People is the inaugural exhibition at East of Elsewhere. The show comprises five
sculptures that are a call to action in the run up to Germany’s 2017 election.
Using a combination of welded steel, bicycle wheels, spray cans, paint balloons
and other found materials, there is a nod to the aesthetic languages of Minimalism
and assemblage. However, the works are deeply politicised, having been created
in response to the Alternative for Deutschland’s (AfD) posters plastered around
Berlin in 2017. They are intended as functional objects of protest to express
anger and opposition to right-wing politics.

Reminiscent
of primitive Medieval weapons, with their angular lines and crude welding, the
sculptures ask the viewer to seize a piece and take it to the streets. Blake
fills spray cans and balloons with pink paint, which alludes to the colour and shade
used by the Nazi Party to identify and mark homosexuals; these primitive
attitudes are subverted in this instance to be used ‘against themselves’ as a
means of defacing the alt-right’s communication techniques.

As
the sculptures are borrowed and returned, marks of use accumulate. Blake asks
whether art objects can also exists as functional tools of protest, questioning
the status of these forms and their use value. Ultimately the exhibition insists
that the viewer considers their own agency in how to respond to incipient nationalism,
encouraging action rather than mere intellectual inquiry, or at worst, apathy.

Abu Fatima’s Egg Farm

Katsika’s Refugee Camp

Developing small business

Over the course of 2.5 months I joined with the vital NGO - Habibi.Works. A grass roots and hands-on organisation that operates next to a growing refugee camp in Katsikas, Northern Greece. Habibi.Works provides a makers space and social point that delivers many many great benefits to people that have been through terrible experiences and continue to suffer.With Habibi.Works I initiated a social project with the aim of developing small business directly with residents from the camp. Here are some selected images of some of the projects and collaborations that happened and are still going on.

A chicken coop and fence to house 50 chickens. Abu Fatima and his wife sell and swap the eggs. We made the farm ( and all the projects here ) with a very limited budget, so we had to be creative with finding resources, such as flattening and reusing all this old rusty fencing.

Huda and Bashar’s ‘Market Ayman’

Market Ayman sells a wide variety of things such as sweets, drinks and cleaning products. The local supermarket is a long way to walk to in the Greek sun and closes early. This shop has filled the gap and is also really popular with the kids.

Abu Munir worked on many of these projects for other people in the camp and is a highly gifted engineer and maker. Together we made a Halal Chicken factory ( very little Halal meat to be found in Greece ) and a shop to sell dairy products that he will make but also items from the market. The cheese is a traditional Syrian cheese homemade by Abud; Abu Munir’s cousin.

Yahya’s Barber Shop

Yahya’s Barbershop was the first business project in the camp. It was open from the first night it was built and quickly became the place to get a haircut in the camp and a hang out spot. You can follow Yahya’s barber shop on Insta at @yahyabarber49

Maison de Pigéon &
Afghan Café

Hussein’s ‘Maison de Pigeon’, houses 15 pigeons. He teaches them to fly patterns in the sky. The mural was done with Amar and Hussein. The target is so they can find the caravan easily from above, because all the containers look so similar.
Mortizar’s ‘Afghan Café’ will sell food and drinks directly from his kitchen ( literally ).

Café Yasmin

‘Café Yasmin’ is run by Yasmin ( Um-Hazim ) and Abu Hazim. The whole family worked together building the cafe and garden. The food Yasmin makes is amazing. Follow them on Insta at @cafe_yasmin_60